This is for and about home cooks - the women all over the the world (and through the centuries) who put dinner on the table every night. They know how to cook quickly, easily, economically, healthily and satisfyingly whether for one or a dozen.

Part memoir, part diary of shopping, cooking, reading and thinking about putting supper on the table, by a former fashion/design writer/consultant whose secret love has always been food.

"You don't have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces - just good food from fresh ingredients" Julia Child

This blog is really for my grown up sons who, once away from their London home and feeding themselves, opened their own private "cooking help line." "I have bought some chicken; what do I do with it?"

For nearly 40 years as a working mother (now grandmother) I have put freshly made meals on the table almost every night.

Most of the time I “just cook, ” pulling ingredients out of the fridge and larder and making something simple and quick - usually with no more than 3 or 4 ingredients (not counting olive oil, salt and pepper).

With a stay-at-home mother who loved to cook, I grew up with the perfect teacher – watching her plan, shop and make from scratch always delicious meals that I took for granted. She made it all look easy. And, basically, it is.

Not surprisingly, the old recipes work best, those from my American childhood (split between New York and Virginia) and earlier. Practical, uncomplicated dishes created by stay at home (and some working) mothers who wanted to make their lives easier – and feed their families simply, economically and well.

So here we have The London Cook - part memoir of life in America and England, part diary of shopping, cooking, reading and thinking about putting supper on the table.

Having spent my entire professional life in fashion and interior design as a journalist, consultant and trend analyst, it is time to do something really challenging. And fun.

Let me know what you think.

Part memoir, part diary of shopping, cooking, reading and thinking about putting supper on the table, by someone whose secret love has always been food.